Technology easily creates and displays faces of people who do not actually exist, even though they are no different from the faces of specific individuals. These faces are sometimes more individual and human than the faces of people we are familiar with and have speculated about. In other words, they seem more real. They are faces that seem to definitely exist somewhere and serve as clear evidence of life itself. They are so realistic that if mixed with real faces, they might even make the real ones appear fake?perfect individual faces.
![[Unstagram] A Very Human-Like Virtual Human](https://cphoto.asiae.co.kr/listimglink/1/2023052606570943928_1685051829.jpg)
‘Deep learning’ technology continuously ‘learns’ by finding countless images circulating on the internet without direct human instructions. Even the owners of the subtle facial features do not realize that the features of these virtual person photos originated from themselves. The mechanical input of numerous real people's images is called 'learning.' Machines, which do not need breaks or meal times, excel at performing this learning continuously and ‘deeply.’ Equally important as the core is the detail. Actually, detail is the core. The essence of realism includes the awkwardness that seems real. A slightly awkward smile, a somewhat shy expression, a slightly unbalanced arrangement of facial features, realistically vivid wrinkles or beard marks?all these make the viewer perceive the face as real. It is hyperrealism that mimics reality. Previous artificial faces (called graphics) were perfect, beautiful, and painterly, so they did not evoke rejection or specific feelings and seemed distant from us. Therefore, they were pleasant and comfortable to look at. However, the impression of today’s artificial faces is that of faces likely living hard somewhere nearby. The words ‘human’ and ‘familiar’ naturally come to mind.
![[Unstagram] A Very Human-Like Virtual Human](https://cphoto.asiae.co.kr/listimglink/1/2023052606572943929_1685051849.jpg)
Companies producing human faces with artificial intelligence systems are actively expanding their business using these fake faces and bodies of virtual humans. About 3 to 4 years ago, the Argentine design company ‘Icons 8,’ which announced this technology, said that by inputting conditions such as gender, age, race, skin and hair color, hairstyle, and expression, one could immediately receive a processed photo of a person. Now, such photos can be purchased for just a few dollars and used for any purpose. Advertisements saying ‘Buy virtual models’ frequently appear on social media. It was said that these images could be used in situations embarrassing for human models or in materials or advertisements that might be involved in criminal lawsuits. A representative example is the site ‘This Person Does Not Exist,’ created by Philip Wang, a software engineer at Uber. It is realistic as if a real person was photographed. It looks real even in aspects such as deep shadows under the nose and cheeks in sunlight or capturing ambiguous smiles and expressions. The faces are not brightly smiling or possessing model-like facial features with flawless skin tones; the asymmetry and awkward shyness are just as real. The specificity of technology that packages the virtual as real uses things that are off or awkward. It is even harder to prove that these people do not exist.
It has become laughable to marvel at the dignity of genes and individual impressions regarding human faces. The use of words like ‘human’ or ‘familiar’ has become hesitant. It has become difficult to trust individuals in photos. And is it only photos?
![[Unstagram] A Very Human-Like Virtual Human](https://cphoto.asiae.co.kr/listimglink/1/2023052609015444178_1685059315.jpg)
The beautiful and typical figures in the graphic feel more visually pleasing and comfortable rather than humanistic. Photo by Heo Young-han
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